Radiation synthesis and characterization of hyaluronan capped gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with diameter from 4 to 10 nm, capping by hyaluronan (HA) were synthesized using a gamma-irradiation method. The maximum absorption wavelengths at 517-525 nm of colloidal AuNPs/HA solutions were measured by UV-vis spectroscopy. The size and size distribution of AuNPs were determined from TEM images. The influence of various factors on the size of AuNPs particularly the concentration of Au3+ and HA, and dose rate were also investigated. Results indicated that higher dose rate and HA concentration favor smaller sizes of AuNPs whereas the size increases with Au3+ concentration. The colloidal AuNPs/HA solution was fairly stable more than 6 months under storage at ambient condition. The AuNPs stabilized by biocompatible HA with the size less than 10 nm as prepared can potentially be applied in biomedicines and cosmetics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.